Hot Rumor: Is Kristoff St. John Leaving Y&R for the Wayans Brothers?

Kristoff St. John has played ‘The Young & The Restless’s‘ Neil Winters since 1991, winning an Emmy for the role in 2008. Is the actor tired of playing the buttoned down executive? Rumor has it that he is departing the show to take a role in a new comedy pilot produced by the Wayans Brothers. It is unclear at this time whether this would be a short term leave so he could film the project, or a permanent exit from Genoa City. Neil has not had a major storyline on Y&R for a while. The character’s romance with Ashley (Eileen Davidson) fizzled. But Julia Pace Mitchell has been cast in the new role of Sofia, Tucker’s CFO, a character who seems likely to be a potential love interest for Neil. St. John’s unexpected departure could alter the storyline. A spokesperson for ‘The Young & The Restless’ says that the show does not comment on rumors.

http://www.fancast.com/blogs/2010/deep-soap/deep-soap-will-kristoff-st.-john-leave-yr-can-brenda-247-save-gh/

Well that is certainly shocking, if true, but I'm glad he left on his own terms if this is the case. Those Tyler Perry sitcoms show there is power in starring on a black cable sitcom these days. In a couple years if this show is successful he could cross over to films like Lamann Rucker and others did. Hmmm...

He shouldn't bet the farm on just a pilot. That worked out well for Aaron Refvem and others who know how tough this business is.

He should just ask time off for the pilot, shoot it, keep his fingers crossed and if he lands the gig, get the f*ck out of Y&R and set himself up for at least four-five years of network/cable television work with this sitcom so he can bank off of DVD sales, residuals, cable/syndication reruns, etc(hopefully the pilot is SAG and not AFTRA).

No one should have to put up with working on a show that doesn't appreciate one's loyalty and contributions.

He will have no trouble getting out of his Y&R contract. 1.) He's black. 2.) He's old. and 3.) Don't forget, he's black.

Edited July 14, 201015 yr by bellcurve

He probably wouldn't even need to ask for time off for it with the way Y&R doesn't use him.

I hope this pilot works out for him and he leaves Y&R. They dont deserve him.

Being a supporting prop for Christel [!@#$%^&*] Khalil is just not worth it.

Maria Arena Bell and her inept writing team failed him and that entire Winters family especially bad and believe me, they've failed all the characters on this show. Though it's a risky bet whether or not this pilot will get picked up, but I guess he can only take so much of the non-writing Y&R has been dishing out to him recently.

There was no romance with Ashley. It was yet another filler go nowhere relationship for characters the show has no interest in. The same happened when they palmed Fluckers off on her.

To see them trying to even pretend this story with Sofia will be any different is a joke. They only care about showing a black relationship if it's time to degrade someone, like what happened with the Tyra fiasco.

Maria Arena Bell and her inept writing team failed him and that entire Winters family especially bad and believe me, they've failed all the characters on this show. Though it's a risky bet whether or not this pilot will get picked up, but I guess he can only take so much of the non-writing Y&R has been dishing out to him recently.

Beyond non-writing, it's just degrading trash which is done in a way which reinforces the idea that black characters are pointless. You casually take away Neil's job and any love interest he had and any purpose he had. Then you have fans say "Well he's a loser anyway," instead of actually wondering why he became that way. The only time you do give a story, it's humiliation, like what happened with Tyra.

Rauch does not know how to produce a show worth crap, but he sure knows how to phase out longtime black cast members in a way which gets a shrug from viewers. He did this expertly at OLTL and he has done it here. I am not a fan of MAB or of Sheffer but in this case, based on their past soap histories and his, I tend to put the blame on him.

Edited July 14, 201015 yr by CarlD2

There was no romance with Ashley. It was yet another filler go nowhere relationship for characters the show has no interest in. The same happened when they palmed Fluckers off on her.

To see them trying to even pretend this story with Sofia will be any different is a joke. They only care about showing a black relationship if it's time to degrade someone, like what happened with the Tyra fiasco.

+1.

Beyond non-writing, it's just degrading trash which is done in a way which reinforces the idea that black characters are pointless. You casually take away Neil's job and any love interest he had and any purpose he had. Then you have fans say "Well he's a loser anyway," instead of actually wondering why he became that way. The only time you do give a story, it's humiliation, like what happened with Tyra.

Rauch does not know how to produce a show worth crap, but he sure knows how to phase out longtime black cast members in a way which gets a shrug from viewers. He did this expertly at OLTL and he has done it here. I am not a fan of MAB or of Sheffer but in this case, based on their past soap histories and his, I tend to put the blame on him.

Yep.

I knew this was going to happen. So now we're stuck with all non Winters. Since CKLily turning white, She can be cast as a whole new character. Devon isn't a Winters. & not Malcolm isn't a Winters. They probably make Devon & not Malcolm a whole new family. While CKLily new character can be called Mrs. Snow White Assby(ms).

I wonder how many black viewers he going to take with him.

Edited July 14, 201015 yr by MoTheGreat

SID is saying this is true...

http://cbs.soapsindepth.com/latebreakingnews/

St. John Out!

According to sources, Kristoff St. John will soon be exiting as THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS' Neil! "He got out of his contract," a setsider confirms to Soaps In Depth, adding that the actor has booked a role in a comedy pilot being produced by the Wayans brothers. St. John won an Emmy for playing Neil in 2008 — but hasn't had much to do in Genoa City since then. A spokesperson for Y&R reminds that the show does not comment on rumors.

Maria Arena Bell, Hogan Sheffer, Scott Hamner, and Paul Rauch really f.ucked him and the character over. But of course, some will never admit that or that Y&R is run by people who continue to piss on its legacy and characters.

I wonder if it's true that VR is coming to B&B. To make up the lost that Y&R going to have when Kristoff St. John leaves. I think the rumor about VR & Kristoff leaving is connected some how.

Edited July 14, 201015 yr by MoTheGreat

Bring on Neil's O.J. story...

Go Kristoff, run! I hope many others will follow.

I wonder how many black viewers he going to take with him.

Are there any left??

Y&R was #1 because of black viewers. I think it was a whole domino affect with the rest of the CBS lineup. You would think Y&R would keep its african american actors and build a good foundation around them. Instead they bring back fake Malcolm and CK poor ass version of Lily. No Mamie...No Olivia...No Drucilla and now No Neil...but hey they still have Bryton to do those dancing spinning moves he once did on Family Matters.

Wow. I wonder how bad his exit will be and what this means for the remaining Winters family. They are truly dead. No Neil or Dru left. Sick.